Safety improvements may be implemented at several intersections along Highlands Boulevard in Lakeway, following resident complaints regarding pedestrian safety discussed at an April 21 City Council meeting.

The overview

Resident feedback was collected during a public city meeting held Feb. 25, after which public comments were received through an online portal until March 13. In considering this feedback, several safety solutions were recommended by Walter P. Moore engineer Seth Franks at an April 21 council meeting.

Issues brought forward to the council by Lakeway residents included vehicle speeding along Highlands Boulevard, pedestrian safety at crosswalks on Tavish Trail, pedestrian safety at the roundabout on Highlands Boulevard and Bee Creek Road, and traffic signage along Highlands Boulevard, according to city documents.

Although some of these recommendations may need to be implemented in the next budget year, council members focused on three areas for improvements in the short term—the Highlands Boulevard roundabout, the intersection of Highlands Boulevard and Tavish Trail, and the intersection of Highlands Boulevard and Lakeway Boulevard.

What they’re saying

Council member Jennifer Szimanski stated that visibility was a major concern on the Highlands Boulevard roundabout.

“I see a lot of kids riding scooters across there,” Szimanski said. “I think the way it’s set up now is really dangerous; it doesn’t give drivers any time at all to see them and stop.”

Implementing raised crosswalks at the roundabout and at Tavish Trail was proposed by Walter P. Moore as a solution to visibility concerns. Installing rectangular rapid flashing beacons, which would flash when pedestrians cross the street, was also recommended for the roundabout.

The intersection of Lakeway Boulevard and Highlands Boulevard has additionally posed a threat to pedestrian safety, according to resident feedback.

Solutions for this intersection proposed by Walter P. Moore include extending the existing median, which would result in a shortened crosswalk distance, and adding a left-turn lane from Lakeway Boulevard onto Highlands Boulevard.

What’s next?

Although a final decision regarding which safety measures to implement was not made at the meeting, council directed city staff to produce a plan of action for each intersection and return to the next City Council meeting May 19 with suggestions for improvements.